Hand-operated pulsating cleaning device



July 1, 1969 S. M. HUTCHINSON ETAL HAND-OPERATED PULSATING CLEANINGDEVICE Filed Sept. 23, 1966 Sheet 3 1 F. .7 z a 25: d i U M M j m H 1 fi1 Z 7 g July 1, 1969 s. M. HUTCHINSON ET AL 3,452,745

HAND-OPERATED PULSATING CLEANING DEVICE Filed Sept; 23. 1966 Shet 2 of 2INVENTORS. DZEYMaU/P/M 07Z'////Vf0 damn/v pi /72 3,452,745 HAND-OPERATEDPULSATING CLEANING DEVICE Seymour M. Hutchinson, Plainview, and AdrianN. Spitz,

Massapequa, N.Y., assignors of thirty-seven and onehalf percent each toSeymour M. Hutchinson, Plainview, N.Y., and Adrian N. Spitz, Massapequa,N.Y., and twenty-five percent to Jordan I. Kunik, New York,

' Filed Sept. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 581,589

Int. Cl. A61h 9/00 U.S. Cl. 128-66 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Ahand-held and hand pumped device for cleaning the teeth and gums bymeans of pulsating liquid jet streams.

This invention relates to dental therapeutic devices and, moreparticularly, to a hand operated water pump device having a probe outletfor directing jet streams of liquid onto and between the teeth of theoperator.

There have been in existence several teeth cleaning and gum stimulatingdevices that operate on the principle of projecting jet streams onto andbetween the teeth and along the gums. One such machine has a tank whichis filled with water and which has an electric motor operated pump whichdelivers said water in a pulsating stream against the gums and againstthe teeth by way of a probe or jet pipe. While this instrument is fairlysatisfactory in use, it suffers the disadvantage of being quiteexpensive and not readily or conveniently portable.

Another device is an arrangement for attaching a hose to the spigot of awash basin or the like whereby the jet stream is projected through ahand-held jet pipe onto the teeth and gums. This latter device normallyproduces a non-pulsating stream which is not as efiicient as a pulsatingthe stream for cleaning between the teeth and stimulating the gums.Means for producing pulsations in this latter device are quiteinconvenient and require inordinate dexterity of which few people arecapable. Also, the force of the stream is not conveniently controllable.

According to the present invention, we have devised a lightweight,portable apparatus for producing pulsating jet streams of water againstthe teeth and gums which is easily portable, and is completelyself-contained. This new apparatus carries its own reservoir of waterand has a finger operated pumping action producing pulsating jet streamsthrough a jet pipe. The pulsating streams are easily produced by atrigger-like mechanism which is engageable with the forefinger in amanner similar to that in operating a toy water pistol. Means are alsoprovided for conducting the water stream through a rotatable jet nozzlefor directing the pulsating jet stream into desired locations in themouth as the apparatus is moved by the operators hand. While theforefinger of the operator reciprocally works the trigger-action pump,his thumb simultaneously manipulates the freely rotatable jet pipe forpointing the jet nozzle in the desired direction.

It is also contemplated that the device of the present invention mayalso be utilized as a spray device for treating and cleansing the throatareas of the oral cavity as well as an irrigating and cleansing devicefor other anatomical cavities and orifices. The feature of thereplaceable nozzle and jet renders this device amenable for use bydifferent people. The interchangeability of nozzles and jets ensuresrequisite sanitary conditions that should obtain with the use of devicesof this kind.

The apparatus herein is of practical benefit in that it is small enoughto be hand-held and hand operated and incorporates a self-containedeasily refillable reservoir of ied States Patent liquid that isprojected through the nozzle for cleansing purposes. The liquid withwhich the reservoir is filled may be water alone, or water mixed withmouth wash, detergents, medicinal materials, or the like, which aregenerally or specifically beneficial for the particular anatomicalorifice or cavity that is to be cleansed or treated.

The device herein may be made of molded, inexpensive plastics, or thelike, which are light in weight and which are readily portable fromplace to place.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention Will be apparentfrom the specification.

The features of novelty which are believed to be characteristic of theinvention are set forth herein and will best be understood, both as totheir fundamental principles and as to their particular embodiments, byreference to the specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the jet stream dental device of thepresent invention, some parts being broken away and some parts beingshown in phantom outline;

FIGURE 2 is similar to FIGURE 1, some parts being omitted, showing avertical partial section View of the device with the reservoir beingfilled with liquid;

FIGURE 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical central section viewof a portion of the pumping and valve mechanisms of the device shown inFIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged section view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a left end elevation of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a view taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 2, some parts being shownin elevation;

FIGURE 8 is a view taken on line 8-8 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 9 is a view taken on line 9-9 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 10 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary partial section view showingthe manner in which the jet pipe is connectible to the rotating wheel,some parts being shown in elevation and separated.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2,there is illustrated a dental jet stream apparatus, generally designated11, and having a body portion 12 in the form of a lightweight hollowpistol made of rigid, molded plastic material or the like, having ahollow horizontal barrel portion 13 and a hollow handle 14 enclosing areservoir 15, said handle being integrally molded or otherwise connectedto said barrel portion. Handle 14 has a circular aperture 16 in the rearwall thereof which accomodates a removable plug 17 which normally sealsor closes said aperture with a liquidtight seal. Plug 17 has anintegrally formed rim 18 extending externally of said handle in order toprovide a purchase for manual removal and insertion of said plug. Plug17 has a stem 19 on the inner end thereof, said stem being flexible andterminating in disc 21. Disc 21 is greater in diameter than aperture 16whereby plug 17 may be removed for refilling reservoir 15 without dangerof losing said plug. Plug 17 may be removed and water can be poured intoreservoir 15 after which said plug is reinserted into aperture 16 with aforce fit in order to retain the water in said reservoir.

Mounted in reservoir 15 is a pump mechanism shown in greater enlargeddetail in FIGURE 3. Said pump comprises a vertical inlet pipe 22, thelower open end of which extends to a short distance from the bottom wallof handle 14 and is normally immersed in the liquid in the reservoir.Inlet pipe 22 is connected at its upper end to a perpendicularly arrayedpump cylinder 23, said cylinder having a chamber 24 in which a coilspring 26 is mounted. One end of said spring is encircled around aninwardly extending boss 27 at the right of said chamber while the otherend of said spring bears against a piston 28 which has an annular collar29 which is movable reciprocably along the inner wall of said cylinder.Collar 29 serves to maintain said piston in a proper work ing alignmentwithin cylinder 23.

Integrally formed at the right end of cylinder 23 is an outwardlyextending journal bearing 31 which axially accommodates thereciprocating shaft 32 of trigger 33 connected at the outer end thereof.The inner end of shaft 32 abuts the outer surface of piston 28 wherebythe inward movement of said shaft causes said piston to move inwardlyinto said cylinder against the action of spring 26.

Trigger 33 has an upwardly extending lug 34 which moves reciprocablywithin a channel 36 formed within the bottom portion of barrel 13whereby said trigger is maintained in an aligned condition forconvenient manipulation by the index finger of the operators hand.Journal bearing 31 is mounted with a liquid-tight fit within an enlargedsection 37 in the forward wall of handle 14.

Aligned axially with inlet pipe 22 and extending upwardly from cylinder23 is an outlet pipe 38 whereby fluid under pressure from the inwardmotion of piston 28 is caused to flow upwardly through said outlet pipe.

Intermediate its ends, inlet pipe 22 has an interior constricted annularshoulder 39 against which the head 41 of elongated valve element 42normally rests. Shoulder 39 serves as a valve seat for valve head 41.Located in the lower end of outlet pipe 38 is a valve plate 43 having acentral aperture 44 whose annular edge serves as a valve seat for valvehead 46 of elongated valve element 47. Both valve elements 42 and 47 aremade of lightweight materials that are suitable for performing theirrespective one-way valve functions.

When trigger 33 is retracted against the action of spring 26 and piston28 moves inwardly into cylinder 23 wherein positive pressure isincreased, valve head 41 is urged downwardly against valve seat 39closing olf inlet pipe 22 while, at the same time, valve head 46 isurged upwardly away from valve seat 44 thereby opening outlet pipe 38.When trigger 33 is released, piston 28 moves outwardly under the actionof spring 26 whereby the negative pressure in cylinder 23 causes valvehead 41 to rise upwardly away from valve seat 39 while valve head 46 isurged downwardly against valve seat 44. Accordingly, each leftwardstroke of piston 28 causes liquid from reservoir 15 to move upwardlythrough inlet tube 22 into cylinder 23 while each rightward stroke ofpiston 28 causes liquid from cylinder 23 to move upwardly through outlettube 38. Since the inward and outward motions of piston 28 alternatewith each other, the flow of liquid through outlet pipe 38 will bemanifested in the form of pulsations, the frequency of which will beequal to the frequency of oscillation of trigger 33 and piston 28. Theforce of the pulsating stream flowing through outlet tube 38 will be afunction of the speed with which trigger 33 and piston 28 are retractedagainst the action of spring 26.

Connected to vertical outlet pipe 38 is a 90 elbow joint 51 whichextends through partition 52 which forms a top closure for reservoir 15and separates the latter from hollow barrel 13. Partition 52 has anapertured integrally formed boss 53 through which elbow 51 extends witha resilient O-ring 54 made of rubber of the like, forming a liquid tightseal therebetween.

Integrally molded or otherwise formed on the interior of barrel 13 is apair of spaced apart vertically split journal bearings 56 and 57 whichrotatably support respective end portions of an elongated hollow shaft58. See FIGURE and 9, for example. Integrally formed or otherwisemounted on shaft 58 intermediate its ends is a knurled wheel 59, theperiphery of which extends freely upwardly and sidewardly from barrel 13through arcuate lateral slot 61 in said barrel.

Connected to the horizontal portion of elbow 51 is one end of a shortjunction tube 62, the other end of which terminates in a beveled tip 63which extends partially into the axial aperture 64 of the rear portionof shaft 58. See FIGURES 5 and 10. Spaced a short distance from the endof tip 63 is an annular recess 66 in the surface of tube 62, said recessaccommodating an inner portion of a resilient O-ring 67 made of rubberor the like, the outer portion of said O-ring being nested in an annularrecess 68 in the interior of aperture 64. By this means, shaft 58 andwheel 59 are freely rotatable relative to junction tube 62.

Integrally formed in the forward end of barrel 13 is a journal bearing71 which rotatably supports elongated probe or jet tube 72, one portionof which extends inwardly into barrel 13 and terminates in a beveled tip73 which extends partially into the axial aperture 64 of the forwardportion of shaft 58. Spaced a short distance from the end of tip 73 isan annular recess 74 in the surface of tube 72, said recessaccommodating the inner portion of a resilient O-ring 76, the outerportion of said O-ring being nested in an annular recess 77 in theinterior of aperture 64.

Jet tube 72 is also movable longitudinally through bearing 71 wherebysaid tube may be removably inserted by snap action between recess 74 andO-ring 76. When tip 73 is secured in shaft 58 by means of the action ofO-ring 76, the latter is of sufficient thickness to frictionally engageboth recesses 74 and 77, whereby the rotation of wheel 59 and shaft 58also causes the equi-angular rotation of tube 72 around its axis. Thisis in contrast to the lesser friction exerted by O-ring 67 which permitsthe free rotation of wheel 59 and shaft 58 relative to pipe 62 while atthe same time it establishes a liquid-tight seal therebetween. O-ring 76also establishes a liquid-tight seal between shaft 58 and tube 72 whileat the same time said tube may be disconnected by pulling longitudinallythereon for replacement with a substitute tube 72 of the samedimensions.

That portion of tube 72 that extends outwardly from barrel 13 terminatesin a jet nozzle 78 which in the embodiment shown in the drawings isarranged at approximately a right angle relative to the axis of saidtube. Nozzle 78 is rotatable with tube 72 and its mouth 79 may bedirected at any angle within 360 for directing a jet stream of liquid inthe desired direction by rotating wheel 59.

Liquid that is pumped by the action of trigger 33 and piston 28 flows inintermittent pulses through tube 38, elbow 51, tube 62, shaft 58, tube72, and nozzle 78, and emerges in pulsating streams from mouth 79 ofsaid nozzle.

In operation, the handle 14 of the apparatus is grasped in the hand witha pistol-like grip with the forefinger extending over trigger 33. Thethumb or another finger is positioned on the rim of knurled wheel 59 andnozzle 78 is inserted into the oral cavity with the mouth 79 of nozzle78 directed into the desired position relative to barrel 13 bymanipulation of wheel 59. Thereafter, trigger 33 is repeatedly retractedand released in pistol-like manner thereby creating correspondingrepeated jet streams of fluid emerging under pressure from mouth 79 ofnozzle 78. By manipulation of wheel 59 simultaneously with the repeatedretractions of trigger 33, the pulsing jet stream may be directedagainst the spaces between the teeth, under and around bn'dgework, andalong the gums adjacent the teeth, the operators hand moving from sideto side or up and down, as may be convenient or necessary. This processis continued until the liquid or solution in reservoir 15 is exhausted,after which said reservoir may be refilled with liquid or solution andthe process continued, if desired or necessary.

It will be noted that the operator has complete control of the degree ofpressure or force of the pulsating jet streams which impinge upon andbetween his teeth and upon his gums so that he will derive the optimumbenefits of the cleansing and massaging action of the apparatus that arecommensurate with the idiosyncrasies of the tooth and gum conditions inhis mouth. This control is achieved by the operator manipulating trigger33 at a fast or slow rate, or gradations in between, that will produceproportionate jet stream pressures that are most comfortable for him.

Although the present invention has been described with reference toparticular embodiments and examples, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that variations and modifications can be substitutedtherefor without departing from the principles and true spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable cleaning device for anatomical cavities comprising ahousing, a hand grip on said housing, a fluidcontaining reservoirchamber in said housing, a pump connected to said reservoir, astationary outlet tube connected to said pump, a finger-operatedactuator for said pump to produce intermittent pulsations of fluidtherefrom through said outlet tube, a rotatable hollow shaft mounted insaid housing, one end of said shaft being connected with a liquid-tightseal to said outlet tube, an elongated probe tube rotatably mounted onsaid housing, the inner end of said tube being detachably connected tothe other end of said shaft with a liquid-tight seal, the connectionbetween said shaft and said probe tube being such that the rotation ofsaid shaft causes the equi-angular rotation of said tube around itsaxis, a nozzle on the external end of said probe tube, a finger operatedportion on said shaft extending through said housing for rotation of thelatter and of said tube to cause said nozzle to direct pulsating streamsof fluid in a desired direction.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the connection between saidshaft and said outlet tube comprises an annular recess on the peripheryof said outlet tube,

an annular recess on the interior of said shaft and a resilient O-ringnested in both of said annular recesses, said O-ring providing aliquid-tight seal between said outlet tube and said shaft whilepermitting said shaft to rotate relative to said outlet tube.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the connection between saidshaft and said probe tube comprises an annular recess in the peripheryof said tube, an annular recess in the interior of said shaft and aresilient O-ring nested in both of said recesses to produce aliquidtight seal therebetween, said O-ring being of a suitable thicknessand having frictional characteristics to cause the rotation of saidprobe tube when said shaft is rotated, said O-ring being suitablyresilient to provide a snapaction detachable connection between saidshaft and said tube.

4. A device according to claim 1 and further comprising an elongatedjournal bearing on said housing, said probe tube being rotatable withinsaid bearing and movable longitudinally in respect thereof when saidtube is to be removed from and inserted into said housing, fordetachable connection to said shaft.

5. A device according to claim 1 and further comprising a hollow chamberin said housing, a partition separating said reservoir chamber from saidhollow chamber, said shaft, a portion of said probe tube and a portionof said outlet tube being located in said hollow chamber,

said outlet tube extending through said partition, and a liquid-tightseal between said outlet tube and said partition.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein said pump actuator and whereinsaid rotating portion on said shaft are located on said housing insuitable positions relative to each other for simultaneous operation bydifferent fingers of the same hand that holds the hand grip.

7. A device according to claim 1 and further comprising an aperture insaid housing through which said reservoir is refillable with liquid anda liquid-tight removable closure for said aperture.

8. A device according to claim 1 wherein said fingeroperated portion onsaid shaft comprises a circular wheel coaxially mounted on said shaft,an opening in said housing through which at least a portion of theperiphery of said wheel extends, said wheel being finger-operated tocause the rotation of said shaft and said probe tube.

9. A hand carried and hand operated cleaning device for the oral cavitycomprising a housing, a reservoir chamber in said housing, an elongatedhollow barrel adjacent said housing, a partition between said reservoirchamber and said barrel, a pump mechanism in said reservoir, an inlettube in said reservoir connected to said pump, an outlet tube connectedto said reservoir extending through said partition into said barrel, atleast a portion of said reservoir being grasped by the hand, a triggerelement externally positioned relative to said reservoir, a shaft onsaid trigger element connected to said pump, said trigger element beingmovable by a finger with a hand grasping said reservoir, theintermittent reciprocable movement of said trigger causing liquid insaid reservoir to be pumped therefrom by said pump through said outletto a rotatable shaft mounted in said barrel, an axial aperture in saidshaft, means connecting said outlet tube with one end of said aperture,a drive wheel of enlarged diameter mounted on said shaft intermediateits ends, an arcuate slot in said barrel, at least an arcuate portion ofthe periphery of said drive wheel extending outwardly of said slot formanipulation by either a thumb or finger of the hand grasping thereservoir, an elongated probe tube mounted rotatably and axiallyrelative to said barrel, the inner end of said probe tube beingremovably connected to the other end of said aperture of said shaft,said probe tube being rotatable on its axis to the same degree with therotation of said drive wheel, a nozzle 0n the outer end of said probetube, said nozzle being rotatable around the axis of said tube to thesame degree as the rotation of said drive wheel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,029,734 2/1936 Meitzler 128-2243,088,207 5/1963 Borsuk 128-234 3,144,867 8/1964 Trupp et al. 128-2343,227,158 1/1966 Mattingly 12866 L. W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 128--234

